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Arsenal ensure Women's Champions League play-off berth / Photo: © AFP
Arsenal ensure Women's Champions League play-off berth
Holders Arsenal ensured they will reach at least the knockout play-offs of the Women's Champions League on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Dutch side Twente.
England forward Beth Mead scored the only goal of the encounter in the 10th minute as Renee Slegers' side continue their recovery after losing two of their three opening matches of the league phase.
A third win of the campaign moved Arsenal up to sixth in the standings with only one matchday remaining as they sit one point outside the top four.
Mead said a top-four finish was Arsenal's "aim".
"We've got to put three points on the table next week (at Leuven)," she told Disney+.
"We had an up-and-down campaign last time, you know, you can turn these things around. We just want to finish the Champions League year with a win."
The four highest-placed sides in the table will progress automatically to the quarter-finals with fifth to 12th entering a two-legged play-off to secure a last-eight berth.
Real Madrid currently occupy third spot thanks to a 2-0 win at home to Wolfsburg of Germany.
Maria Mendez headed the opener in the 19th minute, before her centre-back partner Maelle Lakrar picked up a second booking in first-half injury time.
Linda Caicedo scored a fine solo effort with 23 minutes remaining to earn a vital three points for the Spaniards, who finished reduced to nine after 18-year-old substitute Iris Santiago's late dismissal.
Winless Paris Saint-Germain were held to a goalless draw at the Parc des Princes by Belgians Leuven.
PSG's first point of the league phase was not enough to save them from elimination as they trail their local rivals Paris FC, in the final play-off spot, by four points.
In the day's early kick-off, Juventus jumped to second place with a 5-0 hammering of St Poelten in Austria, with captain Cristiana Girelli scoring twice from the penalty spot.
Wednesday's action will see table-toppers Barcelona start European life without women's Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati, who suffered a leg fracture while on Spain duty, when they host Benfica.
Seventh-placed Manchester United welcome fourth-placed Lyon and English champions Chelsea, in ninth, take on winless Roma at Stamford Bridge.
A. Martins--JDB
